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What characteristics of continental crust allow it to float higher on the mantle than oceanic cruast?
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust because it is thicker and composed of lighter materials, such as granite. This lower density allows continental crust to "float" higher on the more dense mantle beneath it, creating continents.
Continental crust and the difference between oceanic crust?
Oceanic crust is mostly basaltic, which is denser, while continental crust is made from mostly basaltic and sedimentary rocks, which are less dense. This difference in density is why the oceanic crust sinks lower (thus the oceans) and the continental crust rides higher (thus the continents) on the mantle.
Why does continental crusts stand higher on the mantle then oceanic crust?
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust because it is made up of mostly granitic rocks, while oceanic crust is composed of denser basaltic rocks. This difference in density causes continental crust to "float" higher on the underlying mantle, creating land above sea level.
What crust is older in years the continental or the oceanic?
Continental crust is far older than oceanic crust.
What are four differences between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?
1. The Oceanic crust is dense while the Continental crust is relatively lighter. 2. The Oceanic crust consists of Silicon and Magnessium, while the Continental crust has Silicon and Alluminium. 3. The Oceanic crust is thin, while the Continental crust is thick. 4. The Oceanic crust makes up the ocean floor, while the Continental crust carries the continents.
Oceanic crust is lighter than the continental crust?
No, the oceanic crust is denser. That's why the land areas "float" so much higher than the ocean bedrock.
Why does the continental crust float higher on the mantle than on the oceanic crust?
Continental crust is less dense and thicker than oceanic crust, causing it to float higher on the mantle. The continental crust is also compositionally different, with a greater amount of less dense materials like granite compared to the basaltic composition of oceanic crust. This difference in density and composition results in the continental crust floating higher on the mantle.
How does the density of oceanic crust differ from that of continental crust?
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust because it is primarily composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock with a higher density than the felsic rocks that make up continental crust. Additionally, oceanic crust is thinner and younger than continental crust, contributing to its higher density.
Why is continental crust situated at an higher elevation than the oceanic crust?
Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust, making it sit higher above sea level. The buoyant nature of continental crust allows it to rise above the denser oceanic crust, resulting in higher elevations on land.
What characteristics of continental crust allow it to float higher on the mantle than oceanic cruast?
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust because it is thicker and composed of lighter materials, such as granite. This lower density allows continental crust to "float" higher on the more dense mantle beneath it, creating continents.
What is the difference between continentalcrust and the oceanic?
Continental crust is thicker and less dense while oceanic crust is thinner and more dense, so essentially continental crust takes a higher position than oceanic crust. When oceanic and continental plates collide, oceanic plates slide underneath continental plates(if this makes what I said any clearer).
How do continental crust differ from oceanic?
Continental crust is predominantly composed mostly of rock of a granitic composition, higher in silica and aluminum, with layers of sedimentary rock above. Oceanic crust is predominantly basaltic (higher in iron and magnesium), darker, thinner, more dense, and formed from rapid cooling of lava.
Is the density low or high for the oceanic crust?
The density of oceanic crust is generally higher than continental crust due to its composition of mostly basaltic rock. This higher density causes oceanic crust to be thinner and denser, leading to its subduction beneath continental crust at convergent plate boundaries.
What is older the oceanic crust or the continental crust?
Continental crust is far older than oceanic crust.
Is the continental crust thinner than the oceanic crust?
It is not. The oceanic crust is thinner than the continental crust!
Why oceanic crust is always subducted underneath continental crust?
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, so when they collide, the denser oceanic crust is forced beneath the lighter continental crust in a process known as subduction. This subduction occurs at convergent plate boundaries where two plates are moving towards each other. The sinking oceanic crust can trigger volcanic activity and create mountain ranges on the continental crust.
Both continental crust and oceanic crust consist mainly of what elements?
Both continental crust and oceanic crust consist mainly of silicon and oxygen, forming silica-based minerals. However, oceanic crust tends to have higher concentrations of iron and magnesium compared to continental crust.
